Disintegrating apparatus



March 29; 1966 D, JQNES DISINTEGRATING' APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30, 1965 INVENTOR. w/wzf Jaw BY M March 29, 1966 D. E. JONES DISINTEGRATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 30, 1963 INVENTOR.

ii Jw BY Jill March 29, 1966 D. E. JONES 3,243,129

DISINTEGRATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 I "29"! III. l ll J) United States Patent Oil ice Patented Mar. 29, 1966 3,243,129 DISINTEGRATING APPARATUS Dwight E. Jones, Pittsfield, Mass, assignor to E. D. Jones Corporation, Pittsfield, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 30, 1963, Ser. No. 298,656 3 Claims. (Cl.-24197) This application is a continuation-impart of Ser. No. 178,696, filed March 9, 1962 which is a continuation-inpart of-Ser. No. 142,940, filed October 4, 1961, both now abandoned.

This invention is useful in reducing paper pulp or waste paper in its many varied forms to a fully defibered slurry suitable for use or reuse in normal equipment for refining paper pulp.

Objects of the invention are to provide disintegrating apparatus which is simple and economical in construction, which is eflicient and rapid in action, which is selfpumping, which can produce very fine attrition, which does not damage the fibers, which does not tend to clog, and which is durable and reliable in use.

In one aspect the invention involves apparatus comprising a tank having a main chamber and an annular chamber at the bottom or other side thereof, a rotor in said annular chamber, vanes on the rotor projecting into said main chamber for breaking up masses of material into small pieces and circulating the material around the main chamber, the tank having an annularly disposed inlet means from the main chamber to the annular chamber and an annularly disposed inlet means from the annular chamber to the main chamber, the inlet means being concentric with the rotor and the outlet means being disposedoutside the inlet means, and opposed attrition blades on the tank and rotor in said annular chamber, whereby material-may flow through said inlet means from the main chamber to the annular chamber, thence outwardly between. said attrition 'blades and thence back through said outlet means to the main chamber for recycling. The aforesaid annular chamber should have an opening leading downwardly therefrom through which said annular chamber maybe drained. Preferably the aforesaid vanes overlap said inlet means to keep the inlet means from clogging. Preferably the inlet means and the outlet means each comprises an annular row of ports. The preferred embodiment has a lip between the inlet and outlet means, the lip overlapping the outlet means so as outwardly to deflect material flowing into the main chamber through the outlet means. The lip preferably tapers outwardly to an edge. 7

For the purpose of illustration typical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal section through one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed section on the same line as FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is aview like'FIG. 1 of a modification;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 2 showing a modification;

FIG. 6a is a view like FIG. 1 of a modification;

FIG. 7 is a section on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section on line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a detail view of the inner peripheries of the rings 43 and 44; and

FIG. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

The particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises a tank 1 having an inlet 2 at the top and an outlet 3 at the bottom. Journaled in the bottom of the tank 13 a rotor 4 carrying on its inner surface blades 6 for breaking up masses of material into small pieces and circulating the material around the tank, and mounted on the interior surface of the tank around the rotor are stationary blades 7 for assisting in breaking up the material and directing its flow. Projecting inwardly from the casing is a flange 8 overlapping the periphery of the rotor. Mounted on the opposing faces of the overlapping portions are attrition rings 9 and 11 (FIGS. 3 and 4) comprising rows of ribs 12 and 13 (FIG. 4) extending approximately radially with the ribs on the rotating ring inclined outwardly in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation. The ribs are serrated to form annular rows of teeth 14 and 16 (FIG. 3), the annular rows on the rotor being staggered with respect to the annular rows on the tank so that they project into the annular spaces between the annular tank rows. Inside the rings 9 and 11 is an annular inlet 17 covered by a perforated or slotted grating 18 and outside the rings is an annular outlet in the form of an annular row of ports 21 communicating with the interior of the tank. With the rotor turning in the direction of the arrows in FIGS. 2 and 4 the aforesaid inclination of the rotor ribs 13 pumps material in the direction of the arrows (FIG. 4). Fast to the front of the rotor is a screw-shaped projection 22, described and claimed in copending application of William W. Monks, Sr. No. 113,303, filed April 29, 1961, for preventing the solid material in the tank from sticking to the center of the rotor.

The material to be disintegrated is introduced through the inlet 2 and the disintegrated material is withdrawn through the outlet 3, which is normally provided with a valve to regulate the rate of discharge. The blades 6 produce circulation in the direction of the arrows 23 in FIG. 1 and, in conjunction with the stationary blades '7, break up the large masses of material into small pieces which can pass through the grating 18 and thence between the attrition rings 9 and 11. Circulation through the space between the attrition rings is produced partly by centrifugal force and partly by the inclination of the ribs-13 as above described. By making the attrition zone between the two sets of attrition blades substantially radial, adequate circulation is obtained in a small space. The amount of recirculation can be controlled by regulating the rate of discharge through the outlet 3, the slower tlie discharge the greater the recirculation through ports 2 The modification shown in FIG. 5 is like than shown in FIG. 1 except in that the axis extends horizontally, the tank is provided with a second outlet 25, and the end of the tank opposite the rotor is provided with a reentrant dimple 24 to produce smooth circulation in the direction of the arrows 26 with a minimum of turbulence as described and claimed in my copending application Sr. No. 142,952. filed October 4, 1961. The parts of the modification are designated like the corresponding parts of the first embodiment and the operation is similar. By means of valves in the two outlets 3' and 25 the amount of material recirculated past the attrition rings may be regulated.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6a is like that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and corresponding parts are correspondingly designated. However the rotor 4" carries an annulus 27, the rotor teeth 9" are mounted on this annulus around its periphery between the stator teeth 11" and the tank instead of outside the stator teeth as in FIGS. 1 to 4, and the screen 18" is a part of the rotating annulus instead of being stationary. By mounting the screen on the rotor instead of the stator the edges of the screen openings help to disintegrate the material. And the location of the rotor teeth between the stator teeth and the tank permits a completely free discharge space around the attrition ring so that the material at this location can 3 be freely fed back through outlet 21" to the path of the pulp which is being processed.

The modification shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 is like the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, comprising a tank 31, an outlet 33 and a rotor 34 having impeller vanes 36 for breaking up masses of material and circulating the material through the tank as aforesaid. Below the main chamber of the tank is an annular chamber 39 surrounding the rotor. Separating the two chambers is a ring 40 having an annular row of inlet ports 41 leading from the main chamber to the annular chamber and two or more outlet ports 42 leading from the annular chamber back into the main chamber. As shown in FIG. 7 the ring 40 has a lip overlapping the outlet ports 42, the lip tapering to a relatively thin edge to minimize turbulence between the currents which merge beyond the edge of the lip. Mounted in opposition on the ring 40 and rotor 34 are attrition rings 43 and 44 corresponding to rings 9 and 11 of FIGS. 1 to 4. However these rings have radial ribs 45 with beveled inner ends. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 the inner ends 47 of alternate ribs 45 are beveled more than the inner ends 48 of intermediate rib 46 to facilitate feed of materialbetween the rings from the inlet ports 41 to the annular chamber 39.

The passage of the outlet ports 42 must be sized to provide suitable velocity of flow. Satisfactory results have been obtained with a velocity from 7 feet per sec-nd to 20 feet per second.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the present invention is characterized by a main chamber and an annular chamber in one side thereof with a rotor in the annular chamber and vanes on the rotor projecting into the main chamber for breaking up masses of material into small pieces and circulating the material around the main chamber, the tank having an annularly disposed inlet means from the main chamber to the annular chamber and an annularly disposed outlet means from the annular chamber back to the main chamber, the inlet means being concentric with the rotor and the outlet means being disposed outside the inlet means, and opposed attrition blades on the tank and rotor in the annular chamber so that material may flow through the aforesaid inlet means from the main chamber to the annular chamber and thence outwardly between the attrition blades and back through the outlet means to the main chamber for recycling.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the annularly disposed inlet and outlet means may each be either a continuous opening or an annular row of openings. Thus in FIGS. 1 to the inlet 17 is continuous and the outlet comprises an annular row of ports 21; in FIG. 6a the inlet comprises an annular row of openings 18" and the outlet 21" is continuous; and in FIGS. 6 to 11 the inlet comprises an annular row of ports 41 and the outlet comprises an annular row of ports 42.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes allmodifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For disintegrating material, apparatus comprising a tank having a main chamber and an annular chamber at one side thereof, a rotor in said annular chamber, vanes on the rotor projecting into said main chamber for breaking up masses of material into small pieces and circulating the material around the main chamber, the tank having an 6 annularly disposed inlet means from the main chamber to the annular chamber and an annularly disposed outlet means from the annular chamber to the main chamber,

' LESTER M.

the outlet and inlet means being concentric with the rotor and the outlet means being disposed outside the inlet means, and opposed attrition. blades on the tank and rotor in said annular chamber, the attrition zone between the opposed attrition blades being substantially radial whereby material may flow through said inlet means from the main chamber to the annular chamber, thence outwardly between said attrition blades and thence back through said outlet means to the main chamber for recycling.

2. For disintegrating material, apparatus comprising a tank having a main chamber and an. annular chamber at one side thereof, a rotor in said annular chamber, vanes on the rotor projecting into said main chamber for breaking up masses of material into small pieces and circulating the material around the main chamber, the tank having an annularly disposed inlet means from the main chamber to the annular chamber and an annularly disposed outlet means from the annular chamber to the main chamber, the inlet and outlet means being concentric with the rotor and the outlet means being disposed outside the inlet means, and opposed attrition blades on the tank and rotor in said annular chamber, whereby material may flow through said inlet means from the main chamber to the annular chamber, thence outwardly between said attrition blades and then back through said outlet means to the main chamber for recycling, between said inlet and outlet means a lip overlapping said outlet means so as outwardly to deflect the material flowing into the main chamber through the outlet means.

3. For disintegrating material, apparatus comprising a tank having a main chamber and an annular chamber at one side thereof, a rotor in said annular chamber, vanes on the rotor projecting into said main chamber for breaking up masses of material into small pieces and circulating the material around the main chamber, the tank having an annularly disposed inlet means from the main chamber to the annular chamber and an annularly disposed outlet means from the annular chamber to the main chamber, the outlet and inlet means being concentric with the rotor and the inlet means being disposed inside tthe outlet means, and opposed attrition blades on the tank and rotor in said annular chamber, whereby material may fiow through said inlet means from the main chamber to the annularchamber, thence outwardly between said attrition blades and then back through said outlet means to the main chamber for recycling, between said inlet means and outlet means an annular lip overlapping said outlet means outwardly to deflect the material flowing into the main chamber through the outlet means, said lip tapering outwardly to an edge.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,874,079 8/1932 Black 24197 1,915,862 6/1933 Morden 241-97 X 2,129,789 9/1938 Seaborne 24197 2,147,184 2/1939 Aasted 24197 X 2,594,250 4/ 1952 Tranbarger 241257 X 2,682,810 8/1954 Jones 24146 X 2,685,826 8/1954 Black 24197 X 2,882,149 4/1959 Willems 24197 X 2,945,635 7/1960 Jordan 241-257 X ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

SVVINGLE, Examiner.

H. F. PEPPER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. FOR DISINTEGRATING MATERIAL, APPARATUS COMPRISING A TANK HAVING A MAIN CHAMBER AND AN ANNULAR CHAMBER AT ONE SIDE THEREOF, A ROTOR IN SAID ANNULAR CHAMBER, VANES ON THE ROTOR PROJECTING INTO SAID MAIN CHAMBER FOR BREAKING UP MASSES OF MATERIAL INTO SMALL PIECES AND CIRCULATING THE MATERIAL AROUND THE MAIN CHAMBER, THE TANK HAVING AN ANNULARLY DISPOSED INLET MEANS FROM THE MAIN CHAMBER TO THE ANNULAR CHAMBER AND AN ANNULARLY DISPOSED OUTLET MEANS FROM THE ANNULAR CHAMBER TO THE MAIN CHAMBER. THE OUTLET AND INLET MEANS BEING CONCENTRIC WITH THE ROTOR AND THE OUTLET MEANS BEING DISPOSED OUTSIDE THE INLET MEANS, AND OPPOSED ATTRITION BLADES ON THE TANK AND ROTOR IN SAID ANNULAR CHAMBER, THE ATTRITION ZONE BETWEN THE 